System for synchronizing sounds with learning materials

ABSTRACT

A system for synchronizing sounds with learning materials has a sound reproducing device, learning materials, stopping means and detecting means. The sound reproducing device is stopped by means of the stopping means and is started again by the stopping means which is released from the stopped position in response to output signals of the detecting means generated by detecting a change to the next part of the learning materials.

United States Patent Hino et al.

[ June 12, 1973 SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING SOUNDS WITH LEARNING MATERIALSInventors:

Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

Tetsuo Hino; Takao Orita; lsao Kozu; Kiyoji Fujisawa; Akio Nishiyama;Katsutoshi Nishimura, all of Osaka-fu, Japan Matsushita ElectricIndustrial Co., Ltd., Kadoma, Osaka, Japan Oct. 15, 1970 ForeignApplication Priority Data [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,540,132 11/1970 Glass et al. 35/8 A 3,481,052 12/1969 Dorsett 35/8 A3,222,597 12/1965 Beatenbough et a1... 35/8 A X 3,245,156, 4/1966 DeBlodis et a]. 35/8 A Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb Attorney-Wenderoth,Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT A system for synchronizing sounds withlearning materials has a sound reproducing device, learning materials,stopping means and detecting means. The sound reproducing device isstopped by means of the stopping om. 20, 1969 Japan 44/84390 means andis Started again by the Stopping means which U S Cl A is released fromthe stopped position in response to Cl output Signals of the detectingmeans generated Field o E5551IfffIfffffffffffffffffff55/8 A, 35 c;timing a change next earning mated 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1/ C Y iL SOUND DETEC T- LEARNING E R ING MATERIAL 3 I DEVICE d MEANS If 1 g 5"?x. *i O. I K /L- rd I y I v //.I// 1 i STOPPING MEANS mmummlz 3.738.021

sum 1 [I 3 .7 .f. .V.m.

SOUN D REPRODUCING DEVICE STOPPING MEANS FIG] INVENTORS TETSUO HINOTAKAO ORIT ISAO KOZU Fl b mvom FUJISAWA G 5 AKIO NISHIYAMA KATSUTOSHINISHIMURA BY %ww% 4% ATTORNEYS PAIENIEUmrawn c SOUND 4 REPRODUCINGDEVICE SELECTING E I AMP. F FILTER RECTIFIER 14 CONTROL CIRCUIT JINVENTORS TETSUO HINO TAKAO ORITA ISAO KOZU KIYOJ! FUJISAWA AKIONISHIYAMA KATSUTOSHI NISHIMURA BY P Z nabQ ATTORNEYS (\l s T 6 INVENTORSE TETSUO HINO o TAKAO ORITA E ISAO KOZU KlYOJl FUJISAWA AKIO NISHIYAMAKATSUTOSHI NISHIMURA BY flaw 4210 4 ATTORNEYS SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZINGSOUNDS WITH LEARNING MATERIALS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates to a system for synchronizing sounds with learning materials,and more particularly to a system for synchronizing the operation of asound reproducing device, such as a magnetic tape recorder, a discrecord player or the like, with learning materials, such as a book, aslide projector, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Usually, in a system for synchronizingsounds with learning materials, a change of learning materials isinitiated manually or automatically by detecting marker signals recordedon the sound recording medium. In such an operation, the reproduction ofthe sound programs is continued unless the movement of the soundrecording medium is stopped. Therefore, even if a learner is not able tounderstand the learning programs in the time the corresponding soundrecording takes to run, succeeding sound programs continue to bereproduced. In order to allow enough time for learning any one part of alearning program, it is desired to stop and start the movement of thesound recording medium freely depending on the speed of the learningprocess. Heretofore, such devices have been relatively complicated touse. This problem of coordinating learning speed with the speed of thesound recording medium can be solved by using a special device havingspecified learning materials with sound programs, but there is still aproblem that such a device has a complicated construction because it isnecessary to use one medium for storing both the sound and learningprogram.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of-this inventionis to provide a system for synchronizing a conventional soundreproducing device, such as a magnetic tape recorder, a magnetic sheetor disc recorder, a disc record player or the like, with visiblelearning materials comprising a plurality of successive parts, such as abook, a slide projector or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a synchronizing systemcapable of allowing any length of time for viewing a learning programforming part of the learning material by automatically stopping thereproduction of the sound programs at the end of each portion thereofcorresponding to a part of the learning material and by automaticallystarting the sound program again when a change to the next part of thelearning material is detected.

A further object of this invention is to provide a synchronizing systemincluding a sound reproducing device in which the movement of the soundrecording medium is stopped by detection of stop signals recorded on thesound recording medium, and then the movement ofthe sound recordingmedium is manually or automatically started when a change to the nextpart of the learning materials is detected.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a synchronizingsystem including a detecting switch designed to be in contact withlearning materials to detect a change to the next part of the learningmaterials.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a synchronizingsystem including a detecting switch designed to be in contact with apage in a book to detect when the next page of the book is turned.

These objects are achieved by the provision of a system forsynchronizing sounds with learning materials which has a soundreproducing device, learning materials, stopping means and detectingmeans. The sound reproducing device is stopped by means of the stoppingmeans and is started again by the stopping means which is released fromthe stopped position in response to output signals of the detectingmeans generated by a change to the next part of the learning materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be betterunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the basic construction of thesynchronizing system according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the stopping meansand the detecting means according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram illustrating the stop means according tothis invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of another type of detectingmeansaccording to this invention; and

FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic illustrations of detecting means forcontact with the learning material and embodiments of the detectingswitch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, the basicconstruction of the synchronizing system according to this invention isshown in the block diagram. 'The system comprises: a sound reproducingdevice 1, such as a magnetic tape recorder, a magnetic sheet recorder, adisc record player or the like, operable with sound recording medium; alearning material 2 such as a book, a slide projector or the like;detecting means 4 for detecting a change to the next part of thelearning materials 2; and stopping means 3, described later in detail inconnection with FIG. 2. A plurality of sound programs and a plurality ofstop signals are recorded on the sound recording medium included in thesound reproducing device 1. The learning material 2 has a plurality ofpicture programs which illustrate the sound programs. The soundreproducing device 1 has a remote control terminal c for controlling themovement of the sound recording medium and an output terminal a forsound programs and stop signals. These terminals are connected tostopping means 3. The line b from a stopping means 3 to the learner pindicates the action of the learner in changing to the next part of thelearning material 2.

There is shown in FIG. 2 one embodiment of the stopping means 3, a book15 which can be one of the possible learning materials 2 and a detectingswitch 16 as one of the possible detecting means 4. The detecting switch16 has a mechanical switch 17 such as a microswitch and a movable arm 18mounted on a rotatable shaft forming part of the switch 17. The movablearm 18 is in contact with a page of the book 15 and is moved when thepage of the book 15 is turned. The stopping means 3 includes a signalamplifier 11, a selecting filter 12 connected to the output of theamplifier for separating stop signals from reproduced signals, arectifier 13 connected to the output of the selecting filter forrectifying stop signals and a control circuit 14 connected to the outputof the rectifier for opening a normally closed external series circuitextending from remote control terminal to switch the sound reproducingdevice off upon receiving an output from the rectifier 13. The detectingswitch 16 has a triggering terminal d which is connected to the controlcircuit 14 in the stopping means 3 so as to cause the control circuit 14to close the open external series circuit, whereby the operation ofsound reproducing device 1 is caused to start. The exterior circuit canform part of the power supply circuit of the sound reproducing device l,or can be a relay circuit controlling the power supply circuit. Thedetecting switch 16 has an auxiliary switch 19 to operate it manually soas to close the control circuit 14 independently of any movement of thepage of the book 15.

The operation of this system will be described in detail referring toFIGS. 1 and 2. In the sound reproducing device 1, a plurality of soundprograms and a plurality of stop signals recorded on the sound recordingmedium are reproduced when the sound recording medium moves, and theyaresupplied to the signal amplifier 11 of the stopping means 3 throughthe output terminal a. In the stopping means 3, applied signals areamplified by the signal amplifier 11 and are supplied to the selectingfilter 12 where the stop signals are separated from the reproducedsignals. The output signal from the selecting filter 12 is rectified byrectifier 13 so as to detect the presence of stop signals. When therectified voltage level of stop signals exceeds a predetermined value, acontrol circuit 14, which is normally closed, is switched to the opencondition. Thus, the circuit to the remote control terminal 0 is opened,and the movement of the sound recording medium is stopped. The detectingswitch 16 having a movable arm 18 contacts the pages of the book andwhen the page of the book is turned it is closed. As a result, thecontrol circuit 14 is closed through the triggering terminal d, and thecircuit to the remote control terminal c is closed, whereby the soundrecording medium moves again. The operating steps described above can berepeatedly carried out and the synchronization of sounds with the changeto the next part of the learning materials is achieved. I

In this system, the sound recording medium is utilized effectively forits full length because the parts of the sound program and the stopsignals are successively recorded on the sound recording medium withoutit being necessary to provide pauses for learning between parts of thesound program.

A learner p is able to take enough time to learn each part of thelearning material, because the movement of the sound recording mediumstarts again only when a learner changes to the next part of thelearning materials after seeing and understanding a given part of thelearning materials. In this system the line b from the stop means 3 tothe learner p indicates that the control loop for the parts of theoperating process is closed by completion of learning and the change tothe next part of the learning materials. For a detecting switch 16 therecan be used an easily operable switch, such as a microswitch, which iseasily moved by a page of the book 15. The detecting switch 16 is placedin contact with the book 15 by mounting a base plate on the detectingswitch 16 on a cover of the book 15. 4

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the stopping means.The signal amplifier 11 includes a transistor105, an input condenser 101and an input resistor 102 connected in series between terminal and thebase of the transistor. Base biasing resistors 103 and 104, emitterresistors 108 and 109, an emitter bypassing condenser l10, a collectorload resistor 106 and an output condenser 107 are all connected in aconventional manner to the transistor 105. Signals applied from theoutput terminal a of the sound reproducing device 1 to the inputterminal 100 are fed to the base of the transistor through the inputcondenser 101 and the input resistor 102, and amplified signals appearacross the collector load 106. Output signals from the signal amplifier11 are fed to the base of a selecting filter 12 through the outputcondenser 107 and a coupling resistor 111. The selecting filter 12comprises a frequency selective filter and an emitter follower. Thefrequency selective filter includes a transistor 120, base biasingresistors 1 12 and 113, emitter resistors 11 7 and 118, an emitterby-passing condenser 1 19, a collector load resistor 1 14, a couplingcondenser and a parallel T network connected to the negative feedbackpath from the collector to the base of the transistor through thecoupling condenser 115. The parallel T network contains series connectedcondensers 121 and 122, a grounded resistor 125 for one T network, andseries connected resistors 132 and 124, and a grounded condenser 126 foranother T. network. Stop signals are separated from reproduced signalsby the frequency selective filter. Output signals from the frequencyselective filter are fed to the emitter follower through an outputcondenser 1 16. The emitter follower includes a transistor 129, basebiasing resistors 127 and 128 and an emitter resistor 130. Thus, stopsignals appear across the emitter resistor 130 of the transistor 129 andare fed to a rectifier 13. The rectifier l3 iricludes a couplingcondenser 131, diodes 132 and 133 which form a voltage doublingrectifier, a discharge resistor 134 and a smoothing condenser 135. Bythis rectifier 13, stop signals are rectified and are supplied to acontrol circuit 14. The control circuit 14 includes a transistor 136, arelay 137 and a shunt diode connected in parallel with the relay 137.The emitter of the transistor 136 is grounded, and the collector iscoupled through the parallel connected relay 137 and shunt diode 140 andterminals and 146 to a DC. source 149. The relay 137 has a normally openself-holding contact 138 and a normally closed switching contact 139.The stationary contact of the self-holding contact 138 is connected tothe collector of the transistor 136, while the movable contact thereofis connected to ground. The switching contact 139 has the stationary andmovable contacts thereof connected to terminals 147 and 148,respectively. Terminals 145 and 146 are connected to the triggeringterminal d of the detecting switch 16, the circuit of which is normallyclosed. The manual operating switch 19 is connected in series with themechanical switch 17 of the detecting switch 16. Terminals 147 and 148are connected to the remote control terminal c for externallycontrolling the movement of the sound recording medium of the soundreproducing device 1.

When the level of the rectified voltage of the stop signals exceeds thethreshold voltage of the transistor 136, a collector current flowsthrough the relay 137 and the self-holding contact 138 is closed. As aresult, the collector is grounded through the contact 138 and the relay137 is held in the energized condition unless the mechanical switch 17or the manual operating switch 19 is opened. Therefore, the contact 139is opened and the external circuit of.the remote control circuit isopened so as to stop the movement of the sound recording medium.

When the mechanical switch 17 of the detecting switch 16 is opened bythe turning of a page, the supply of DC. voltage to the collector of thetransistor 136 is switched off and the relay 137 is deenergized. Thus,the self-holding contact 138 and switching contact 139 are restored totheir normal positions and the external circuit from the remote controlterminal 0 is closed, and the movement of sound recording medium starts.A switch 142 for switching the DC. voltage on or off is connectedbetween the D.C.' source connection 149 and a positive voltage terminal143. A negative voltage terminal 144 is grounded. A condenser 141 isconnected between the DC source connection 149 and ground to smooth anyvoltage ripple.

As a sound reproducing device 1 for this system, a magnetic taperecorder, a magnetic sheet recorder, a disc record player or the likehaving a remote control terminal for controlling the movement of soundrecording medium and an output terminal for sound programs can be usedwithout any change in the operation of this system. The auxiliary switch19 is used not only for correcting the relation of the sound program tothe parts of the learning program, but also for manually starting themovement of the sound recording medium independently of a change of thelearning materials.

Another type of detecting switch is shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4 the book15 has a conductive part 22 which is provided on the sheet requiring theexplanation from the sound reproducing medium and the detecting switch16 has two electrodes 21 and 21' which are provided on the end of amovable arm 18. The electrodes 21 and 21 normally form a conductivecircuit when they touch the conductive part 22 on the book 15. Theelectrodes 21 and 21 are disconnected from conductive part 22 when apage is turned and the control circuit 14 is actuated to open theexternal circuit from the remote control terminal c. The movement ofsound recording medium is started again only when electrodes 21 and 21are in contact with the conductive part 22 which is provided on thesheet requiring the sound explanation.

FIG. a shows a means for mounting the detecting switch 16 on the book15. The detecting switch 16 includes a base plate 51 and a flexiblepanel 52. The cover of the book 15 is inserted between base plate 51 andflexible panel 52 so that the detecting switch 16 is contacted and movedby the pages of the book 15 when a page of the book is turned.

The movable arm 18 mounted on the shaft 17 of the detecting switch 16can be constructed so that it is moved when a page is turned in bothforward and reverse directions but actuates the switch only when thepage is turned forward. FIGS. 5b shows a detailed embodiment of such adetecting switch 16. The shaft 17 of the detecting switch 16 is operatedby a turn of the page only in the forward direction, as shown by arrow hin FIG. 5b. A movable arm has a main arm 61 which is fixed to therotational shaft 17 of the easily operated mechanical switch, a sub-arm62, a holding pin 63 which rotatably mounts the sub-arm 62 on the mainarm 61 so that the sub-arm 62 is free to rotate relative to the main arm61, except when it is caught by a projection on the sub-arm 62, and aspring 64 pressing the sub-arm 62 against the main arm 61. The main-arm61 and thus the switch shaft 17 are moved together with the sub-arm 62by the projection 65 on the subarm 62 in the direction h, when thesub-arm 62 is moved by the page turning in a forward direction as shownby the arrow j. On the other hand, when the sub-arm 62 is moved by thepage as it turns in the reverse direction, as shown by arrow k, the mainarm 61 is not moved, and the switch shaft 17 is not rotated in thereverse direction. There is no difficulty in turning the page in eitherthe forward or the reverse direction, because the movable'arm 18 can beeasily moved in both directions.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that while a particular form ofthis invention has been illustrated and described, various modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for synchronizing sounds with a visible learning materialhaving a plurality of successive parts, said system comprising a soundreproducing device operable with a sound reproducing medium havingrecorded thereon a plurality of parts of a sound program and a pluralityof stop signals corresponding to said plu rality of successive parts;

stopping means coupled to said sound reproducing device for stopping themovement of said sound reproducing device in response to said stopsignals; and

a detecting switch mounted on the learning material and including amovable arm responsive to movement of each part of the learning materialin correspondence with each manual operation of changing from one partof the learning material to another successive part, said detectingswitch being coupled to said stopping means to actuate said stoppingmeans, upon movement of said movable arm, to release said soundreproducing device from the stopped position in correspondence with eachmanual operation of changing one part of the learning material toanother successive part.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detecting switchcomprises a mechanical switch actuated by said movable arm.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of successiveparts comprises a plurality of pages of a book, and said movable arm isresponsive to turning of the pages.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detecting switch includesa manually operated auxiliary switch to operate said stopping meansmanually to start said sound reproducing device.

5. A system for synchronizing sounds with a visible learning materialhaving a plurality of successive parts, said system comprising a soundreproducing device operable with a sound reproducing medium havingrecorded thereon a plurality of parts of a sound program and a pluralityof stop signals corresponding to said plurality of successive parts;

stopping means coupled to said sound reproducing device for stopping thethe movement of said sound reproducing device in response to said stopsignals; and

a detecting switch mounted on the learning material so as to beresponsive to movement of each part of the learning material incorrespondence with each ductive part adapted to be placed on saidlearning material and normally touched by said electrodes at times otherthan when changing from one part of the learning material to anotherpart, said electrodes being separated from said conductive part incorrespondence with each manual operation of changing one part of thelearning material to another successive part.

1. A system for synchronizing sounds with a visible learning materialhaving a plurality of successive parts, said system comprising a soundreproducing device operable with a sound reproducing medium havingrecorded thereon a plurality of parts of a sound program and a pluralityof stop signals corresponding to said plurality of successive parts;stopping means coupled to said sound reproducing device for stopping themovement of said sound reproducing device in response to said stopsignals; and a detecting switch mounted on the learning material andincluding a movable arm responsiVe to movement of each part of thelearning material in correspondence with each manual operation ofchanging from one part of the learning material to another successivepart, said detecting switch being coupled to said stopping means toactuate said stopping means, upon movement of said movable arm, torelease said sound reproducing device from the stopped position incorrespondence with each manual operation of changing one part of thelearning material to another successive part.
 2. A system as claimed inclaim 1 wherein said detecting switch comprises a mechanical switchactuated by said movable arm.
 3. A system as claimed in claim 1 whereinsaid plurality of successive parts comprises a plurality of pages of abook, and said movable arm is responsive to turning of the pages.
 4. Asystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detecting switch includes amanually operated auxiliary switch to operate said stopping meansmanually to start said sound reproducing device.
 5. A system forsynchronizing sounds with a visible learning material having a pluralityof successive parts, said system comprising a sound reproducing deviceoperable with a sound reproducing medium having recorded thereon aplurality of parts of a sound program and a plurality of stop signalscorresponding to said plurality of successive parts; stopping meanscoupled to said sound reproducing device for stopping the the movementof said sound reproducing device in response to said stop signals; and adetecting switch mounted on the learning material so as to be responsiveto movement of each part of the learning material in correspondence witheach manual operation of changing from one part of the learning materialto another successive part and being coupled to said stopping means toactuate said stopping means to release said sound reproducing devicefrom the stopped position in correspondence with each manual operationof changing one part of the learning material to another successivepart, said detecting switch comprising a conductive circuit having twoelectrodes and a conductive part adapted to be placed on said learningmaterial and normally touched by said electrodes at times other thanwhen changing from one part of the learning material to another part,said electrodes being separated from said conductive part incorrespondence with each manual operation of changing one part of thelearning material to another successive part.